Hi everyone, I am looking for a clue into my grandfathers past life in Italy if anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated, His name was Pasquale De Fazio or DeFazio, went by patsy,pat or Joe in America, Born jan 6 1898.

I know a lot about his life here in America, but I dont know where he was born in Italy or parents, brothers, sisters, etc. I found a naturalization date for him in the 50s but it didnt say much, no declaration of intent found either, I have 2 clues into his past life.

1. Immigration date through ellis Island March 22, 1922 and lists his last place of residence as Cicala Italy, It says born in Cicala as well, but I went through and payed a third party and they said no birth record was found for him in Cicala, but I dont know how good of a search they did.

2. He had a wife before he came who he left, Elisabetta Salvo, and a son, Carmine/Carmen DeFazio, who came to America much later in life after his father.

I would love a marriage record with his parents names, a birth/ baptism record, anything to get passed this brick wall in my genealogy, part of my problem is not speaking/understanding Italian.

I cant seem to find many documents from that area of Italy. If it helps at all his first daughters name was elenore, first son was carmine/Carmen as well I believe, I know southern italians had their naming traditions of first son first daughter

father Rosario in Cicala, joining at cousin Giacomo Di/De Fazio in New York City; last residence Montreal, Canada, on Pasquale name are a note abt the first name ( ... Giuseppe) and that he landed in foreign country from may 1912 by Taormina ship,

Hey Tessa! I believe they were married in Chicago, thats where my grandma was from and that is where their first child was born in 1926, they then move to L.A. where he was a music teacher for awhile, and he owned a recording studio too, later on in life he moved to Hesperia California, The carmine and ellenor is just a best guess for his parents I think, after talking to some people.

I heard that everyone in Italy was drafted into the military at 18 during his time period, which was during world war 1, is there any kind of archive like that online?

Also I dont know if it would help but his first son Carmen/Carmine who he left in Italy with his first wife was a pow to America in world war 2.

Hi, I believe that a brother of your Pasquale , well it was James DE Fazio( born with italian first name: Vincenzo) and he also lived in San Bernardino County, CA; here the death:California, Death Index, 1940-1997 about Vincent DefazioName: Vincent Defazio

I won't pretend to have any information on your grandfather especially since i'm still very new at all this myself. However, i wanted to tell you that i have a De Fazio in my family tree: Caterina De Fazio who is my 2nd great grandmother. She was also from Calabria but from Sambiase, not exactly a neighbor of Cicala but not far. There may or may not be a connection. I don't have any information on her parents or brothers or sisters but wanted to let you know. Happy to explore more with you, if you want.

Good luck with your search. The folks on this message board are VERY generous with their time and knowledge so you are in good hands.

That is an interesting find, but as far as I know he adopted the name Joe later in life, its possible that they said they couldnt find anything because I had listed his fathers name as carmine, not sure though, and thanks Chris I will keep that in mind while researching!

Sort of, what the third party did was arrange a letter that she showed me through email that they sent out to Cicala, which Cicala wrote back and said there was no record, I don't know if maybe I had his father listed wrong? Maybe thats why, but I'm not sure. Do you think I should write directly?

Lisabyrd wrote:Sort of, what the third party did was arrange a letter that she showed me through email that they sent out to Cicala, which Cicala wrote back and said there was no record, I don't know if maybe I had his father listed wrong? Maybe thats why, but I'm not sure. Do you think I should write directly?

Yes, I do It will cost you nothing but time and effort.Be sure to include as much information as you can about him, approximate date of birth, "possible" parent names, etc.

Hey Suanj I just had a bit of a breakthrough! I found out from older family members my grandfather did have family in Canada and my family member did mention something about him passing from canada as well, he said my grandfather had a sister name Anna (ahh-nah is kind of how he pronounced it) so maybe what you linked me is correct!